The Use of Copper in Architecture. "The Copper House" in Haifa

Copper has been used in various construction applications since ancient times. In Europe in the early 20th century building walls were often covered with copper sheets or plates , as this metal withstood harsh climatic conditions well. Due to its high corrosion resistance copper is an excellent building material and is widely used for exterior work, providing durability and reliability of structures. The surface of copper gradually becomes covered with a thin layer of oxide, which protects it from destruction , and gives the metal its characteristic greenish tint. Copper roofs are an integral part of most European urban buildings, especially cathedrals and public buildings. Among the major tourist centers of Europe, most copper shades can be seen in Stockholm and Budapest.

In the modern architecture of Israel, it is almost impossible to find copper cladding of buildings. Most often, it can be seen on old buildings, especially on religious and historical structures. Copper plates were used to cover the roofs of churches, synagogues , and buildings from the Ottoman period.

In the mid-1930s, German Jews began to arrive in Palestine , deciding to settle in their historical homeland. At that time, the Nazi authorities still allowed Jews to emigrate from Germany, but on the condition that they could not take their capital with them. However , they were allowed to take their property with them.

Some of the immigrants brought with them prefabricated houses – factorymade wooden houses lined with copper sheets, which was considered the latest "fashion craze" in Europe in the 1930s.

The presented photograph captures one of these houses , built in 1934. The German writer A . Zweig lived in it for some time. This house is located at 9 Ha-Hursha Street. Another similar building can be seen in Haifa, at 5 Leonardo da Vinci Street.

I was unable to take higher quality photos close to the building, as it is someone's private property, and I don't want problems for myself. But the point is clear. The walls are covered with copper plates, which protects from the cold, from moisture and gives the building originality, because today you practically won't see anything like this anymore.